Carton with closure feature

ABSTRACT

The present application provides a carton. The carton may include a first pair of opposed panels and a second pair of opposed panels. The first pair of opposed panels and the second pair of opposed panels may define a closure feature. The closure feature may include a horizontal fold line and a pair of diagonal lines positioned on each of the second pair of opposed panels.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application and resultant patent relate generally to cartons and more particularly relate to regular slotted cartons with a closure feature for easy reclosing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Regular slotted cartons and the like are in common use for packaging and shipping any number of different types of products. Generally described, a regular slotted carton has four rectangular sidewall panels. The top and bottom ends are usually formed from pairs of sidewall panel flaps. These sidewall panel flaps generally meet in the middle with no overlap. Such a regular slotted carton is usually made from a single rectangular blank with little manufacturing waste for cost effective and efficient manufacture.

One of the drawbacks with the use of a regular slotted carton, however, is that there is generally no efficient means of closing the carton once the flaps have been opened because the top end of the carton is made from the two sidewall panel flaps with no overlap. As such, a regular slotted carton may not be well suited for use with goods such as cereals or other types of perishable goods that should be stored in an enclosed manner after the first opening.

There is thus a desire for an improved regular slotted carton design and the like. Preferably such a regular slotted carton may be easily recloseable. Moreover, manufacturing and use of such a carton may remain highly efficient without requiring additional materials or costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present application and the resultant patent thus provide a carton. The carton may include a first pair of opposed panels and a second pair of opposed panels. The first pair of opposed panels and the second pair of opposed panels may define a closure feature. The closure feature may include a horizontal fold line and a pair of diagonal lines positioned on each of the second pair of opposed panels.

The present application and the resultant patent further provide a method of closing a regular slotted carton. The method may include the steps of folding a first top flap of a first top flap pair within the carton adjacent to a first panel of a first pair of panels, folding a second top flap pair within the carton adjacent to a second pair of panels, folding a first end of each of the second pair of panels along a horizontal fold line and a pair of diagonal lines, and folding a second top flap of the first top flap pair between the second top flap pair and the first panel of the first pair of panels.

The present application and the resultant patent further provide a closure feature for a regular slotted carton. The closure feature may include a first pair of opposed panels with a first pair fold line to form a first pair first end and a first pair second end and a second pair of opposed panels with a second pair fold line to form a second pair first end and a second pair second end. The second pair of opposed panels may include a pair of diagonal lines extending from the second pair fold line such that folding the second pair first ends along the second pair fold line and the pair of diagonal lines form a triangular configuration.

These and other features and improvements of the present application and the resultant patent will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the several drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a regular slotted carton as may be described herein.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a blank that may be used to erect the regular slotted carton of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the regular slotted carton of FIG. 1 showing use of an enclosure feature.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the regular slotted carton of FIG. 1 showing use of the enclosure feature.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the regular slotted carton of FIG. 1 showing use of the enclosure feature.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the regular slotted carton of FIG. 1 showing use of the enclosure feature.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the regular slotted carton of FIG. 1 showing use of the enclosure feature.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows an example of a carton 100 as may be described herein. In this example, the carton 100 may be a regular slotted carton 110. Other types of cartons 100 also may be used herein. In describing the carton 100, the terms “bottom,” “top,” “side,” “end,” “first,” “second,” and the like are used for purposes of relative orientation only and not as an absolute position. For example, any surface of the carton 100 may be used as the bottom or the top as oriented by the user. The carton 100 may be made out of various types of paperboard materials 120 and the like. The paperboard material 120 may be combined or treated with one or more additional materials to improve the strength, water resistance, color fastness, and/or other characteristics. For example, the paperboard material 120 may be coated or impregnated with one or more resins or polymeric materials and the like. The paperboard material 120 may be laminated or may be a multi-layer material. As will be described in more detail below, the carton 100 may be cut from a sheet of the paperboard material 120 and folded into the desired shape. The carton 100 may have any suitable size, shape, and/or configuration.

The carton 100 may have a first sidewall panel 130 and opposed second sidewall panel 140. The first sidewall panel 130 may have a first sidewall panel fold line 150 dividing the first sidewall panel 130 into a first sidewall panel first end 152 and a first sidewall panel second end 154. The second sidewall panel 140 may have a second sidewall panel fold line 160 dividing the second sidewall panel 140 into a second sidewall panel first end 162 and a second sidewall panel second end 164. The sidewall panel fold lines 150, 160 may be positioned somewhat closer to a top end of the carton 100 as opposed to a bottom end thereof although other configurations may be used herein.

The carton 100 also may include a top wall 170 and an opposed bottom wall 180. The top wall 170 may be formed from a first sidewall panel top flap 190 extending from the first sidewall panel 130 and a second sidewall panel top flap 200 extending from the second sidewall panel 140. The bottom wall 180 may be formed from a first sidewall panel bottom flap 210 extending from the first sidewall panel 130 and a second sidewall panel bottom flap 220 extending from the second sidewall panel 140. The second sidewall panel top flap 200 may have one or more top flap fold lines 230 positioned thereon. The top flap fold lines 230 may divide the flap 200 into a first flap end 232, a second flap end 234, and/or into other sections. Any number of the top flap fold lines 230 may be used herein.

The carton 100 may include a first end wall panel 240 and an opposed second end wall panel 250. The end wall panels 240, 250 may be positioned between the first sidewall panel 130, the second sidewall panel 140, the top wall 170, and the bottom wall 180 so as to form the substantially rectangular carton 100. The first end wall panel 240 may have a first end wall panel top flap 260. The first end wall panel top flap 260 may have a first top flap perforation line 262 dividing the first end wall panel top flap 260 into a first top flap first end 264 and a first top flap second end 266. The second end wall panel 250 may have a second end wall panel top flap 270. The second end wall panel top flap 270 may have a second top flap perforation line 272 dividing the second end wall panel top flap 270 into a second top flap first end 274 and a second top flap second end 276. Alternatively, the end wall panel top flaps 260, 270 may be pre-cut instead of using the perforation lines 262, 272. The first end wall panel 240 also may have a first end wall panel bottom flap 280 and the second end wall panel 250 may have a second end wall panel bottom flap 290. The end wall panel top flaps 260, 270 may be positioned within the sidewall panel top flaps 190, 200 and attached thereto to form the top wall 170. The end wall panel bottom flaps 280, 290 may be positioned within the sidewall panel bottom flaps 210, 220 and attached thereto to form the bottom wall 180. Although the end wall panels 240, 250 are shown as being of lesser length than the sidewall panels 130, 140, the end wall panels 240, 250 may be of equal or greater length.

The first end wall panel 240 may include a first end wall panel horizontal fold line 300 dividing the first end wall panel 240 into a first end wall panel first end 302 and a first end wall panel second end 304. The second end wall panel 250 may include a second end wall panel horizontal fold line 310 dividing the second end wall panel 250 into a second end wall panel first end 312 and a second end wall panel second end 314. The end wall panel horizontal fold lines 300, 310 may be positioned somewhat closer to a top end of the carton 100 as opposed to a bottom end thereof and may align with the sidewall panel fold lines 150, 160. Other positions also may be used herein.

The first end wall panel 240 may have a first end wall panel first diagonal line 320 and a first end wall panel second diagonal line 330. The second end wall panel 250 may include a second end wall panel first diagonal line 340 and a second end wall panel second diagonal line 350. The diagonal lines 320, 330, 340, 350 may be perforated lines or fold lines. The diagonal lines 320, 330, 340, 350 may extend from intersections 360 of the sidewall panel fold line 150, 160 and the end wall panel horizontal fold lines 300, 310 to an apex 370 about the end wall panel top flaps 260, 270. The first end wall panel diagonal lines 320, 330 thus divide the first end 302 of the first end wall panel 240 into a number of triangles. In this example, a first end wall panel first right triangle portion 380, a first end wall panel second right triangle portion 390, and a first end wall panel equilateral triangle 400 (or at least substantially equilateral). Likewise, the second end wall panel diagonal lines 340, 350 divide the first end 312 of the second end wall panel 250 into a second end wall panel first right triangle portion 410, the second end wall panel second right triangle portion 420, and the second end wall panel equilateral triangle 430 (or at least substantially equilateral). Other types of triangles and other shapes may be used herein. Other configurations may be used herein.

As will be described in more detail below, the carton 100 also may include a closure feature 450. The closure feature 450 may include the cooperation of the first ends 152, 162 of the sidewall panels 130, 140, the sidewall panel top flaps 190, 200, the first ends 302, 312 of the end wall panels 240, 250, the end wall panel top flaps 260, 270, and the respective fold lines and/or perforation lines.

FIG. 2 shows a blank 500 that may be used to erect the carton 100. The blank 500 may have any suitable size or shape. As described above, the blank 500 may be a single piece of the paperboard material 120. In addition to the panels and flaps described above, the blank 500 also may include a first glue panel 510 and a second glue panel 520. The glue panels 510, 520 may be attached to the first sidewall panel 130 or the second sidewall panel 140 via a glue panel fold line 530. The blank 500 also may include the sidewall panels 130, 140, the sidewall panel top flaps 190, 200, and the sidewall panel bottom flaps 210. The blank 500 also may include the end wall panels 240, 250, the end wall panel top flaps 260, 270, and the end wall panel bottom flaps 280, 290. The side wall panel flaps 190, 200, 210, 220 may be separated from the sidewall panels 130 by a pair of sidewall panel flap fold lines 540. The end wall panel flaps 260, 270, 280, 290 may be separated from the end wall panels 240, 250 by a pair of end wall panel flap fold lines 550. The sidewall panels 130, 140 and the end wall panels 240, 250 may be separated by three corner fold lines 560. Other configurations may be used herein. For example, additional openings and features also may be added.

All of the fold lines described herein may be formed by crushing the paperboard material 120 along the line to be folded so as to facilitate bending the paperboard material 120 to form the various panels and flaps. All of the perforation lines in the paperboard material 120 may be formed by scoring the paperboard material 120 with a cut that is about fifty percent (50%) into the side of the paperboard material 120. This fifty percent cut may be a continuous cut that extends from the surface of the material down to a depth that is half of the thickness of the material. The fifty percent cut assures a clean tear at the surface that leaves a relatively pleasing appearance, particularly when the blank 500 is printed. Other depth also may be used herein. Any reference to a fold line may in fact be a perforation line and any reference to a perforation line may be a fold line. Other types of construction techniques may be used herein.

To assemble the blank 500 into the carton 100, the sidewall panels 130, 140 and the end wall panels 240, 250 may be folded about the corner fold lines 560. The glue panels 510, 520 may be glued by any standard adhesive, stapled, or otherwise attached to the second end wall panel 250. The end wall panel flaps 260, 270, 280, 290 may be folded along the end wall panel flap fold lines 550. The side wall panel flaps 190, 200, 210, 220 may be folded along the sidewall panel flap fold lines 540 and glued or otherwise attached to the end wall panel flaps 260, 270, 280, 290. The carton 100 is now secure and ready for shipment or other use. Other and additional method steps may be used herein in any order.

FIGS. 3-7 show the opening and the reclosing of the closure feature 450 of the carton 100. The carton 100 may be opened about the top wall 170. Specifically, the sidewall panel top flaps 190, 200 may be unattached from the end wall panel top flaps 260, 270 and the adhesive thereon. As is shown in FIG. 3, the sidewall panel top flaps 190, 200 may be raised with the end wall panel top flaps 260, 270 visible. As is shown in FIG. 4, the first sidewall panel top flap 190 may be folded within the carton 100 and within the end wall panel top flaps 260, 270 (or detached). In FIG. 5, the end wall panel top flaps 260, 270 also may be folded within the carton 100 (or detached). In FIG. 6, the first ends 302, 312 of the end wall panels 240, 250 may be forced inward such that the first ends 302, 312 of the end wall panels 240, 250 fold along the diagonal lines 320, 330, 340, 350 as well as the horizontal fold lines 300, 310 so as to form the triangular portions 380, 390, 400, 410, 420, 430. Each of the end wall panel tops flaps 260, 270 may split along the perforation lines 262, 272 into the top flap ends 264, 266, 274, 276. Likewise, the sidewall panel first ends 152, 162 may be folded together about the sidewall panel fold lines 150, 160. As is shown in FIG. 7, the second sidewall panel top flap 200 may be folded along the top flap fold line 230 and inserted between the first end 152 of the first sidewall panel 130 and the second ends 266, 276 of the end wall panel top flaps 260, 270. The angled configuration of the components of the closure feature 450 maintains the second sidewall panel top flap 200 in place. The closure feature 450 thus has a substantially triangular shape 600 as viewed about the end wall panels 240, 250. The second sidewall panel top flap 200 may be positioned between the first end 152 of the first sidewall panel 130 and the second ends 266, 276 of the end wall panel top flaps 260, 270 in whole or in part. The second sidewall panel flap 200 also may be folded over the first sidewall panel 130 and attached by any suitable connection means including, for example, a resealable adhesive strip. The carton 100 is now enclosed via the closure feature 450 in a secure fashion.

The carton 100 also may be reopened by reversing the steps above. The carton 100 and the closure feature 450 thereof may be opened and closed as many times as desired. The use of the closure feature 450 thus provides the regular slotted carton 110 with the ability to open and close and, preferably, without the use of additional adhesives or other types of connection means. Moreover, the carton 100 provides the closure feature 450 without requiring additional material or weight. The carton 100 thus may be efficient to use and cost effective to manufacture. Although the carton 100 has been described in the context of the regular slotted carton 110, other types of carton may be suitable for use with the closure feature 450 and the like.

The steps described above in opening and closing the carton 100 are for the purpose of example only. Other and additional steps may be used herein in any order. Other configurations also may be used herein.

It should be apparent that the foregoing relates only to certain embodiments of the present application and the resultant patent. Numerous changes and modifications may be made herein by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the general spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims and the equivalents thereof. 

I claim:
 1. A paperboard carton, comprising: a first pair of opposed panels; and a second pair of opposed panels; the first pair of opposed panels and the second pair of opposed panels comprising a closure feature; the closure feature comprising a horizontal fold line and a pair of diagonal lines positioned on each of the second pair of opposed panels.
 2. The paperboard carton of claim 1, wherein the carton comprises a regular slotted carton.
 3. The paperboard carton of claim 1, wherein the first pair of opposed panels and the second pair of opposed panels comprise a plurality of rectangular panels.
 4. The paperboard carton of claim 1, wherein the first pair of opposed panels comprises a first sidewall panel and a second sidewall panel.
 5. The paperboard carton of claim 1, wherein the closure feature comprises a first fold line positioned about each of the first pair of opposed panels.
 6. The paperboard carton of claim 1, further comprising a top wall and wherein the top wall comprises a pair of first flaps extending from the first pair of opposed panels.
 7. The paperboard carton of claim 6, wherein the closure feature comprises a first flap fold line positioned about at least one of the pair of first flaps.
 8. The paperboard carton of claim 6, wherein the top wall comprises a pair of second flaps extending from the second pair of opposed panels.
 9. The paperboard carton of claim 8, wherein the closure feature comprises a flap perforation line positioned about each of the pair of second flaps.
 10. The paperboard carton of claim 9, wherein the flap perforation lines divide each of the pair of second flaps into a first end and a second end.
 11. The paperboard carton of claim 1, wherein the pair of diagonal lines comprises a pair of diagonal fold lines or a pair of diagonal perforation lines.
 12. The paperboard carton of claim 1, wherein the second pair of opposed panels comprises a first end wall panel and a second end wall panel.
 13. The paperboard carton of claim 1, wherein the horizontal line and the pair of diagonal lines form a pair of right triangles and a substantially equilateral triangle on each of the second pair of opposed panels.
 14. The paperboard carton of claim 1, wherein the closure feature comprises a triangular configuration.
 15. A method of closing a regular slotted carton, comprising: folding a first top flap of a first top flap pair within the carton adjacent to a first panel of a first pair of panels; folding a second top flap pair within the carton adjacent to a second pair of panels; folding a first end of each of the second pair of panels along a horizontal fold line and a pair of diagonal lines; and folding a second top flap of the first top flap pair between the second top flap pair and the first panel of the first pair of panels.
 16. A closure feature for a regular slotted carton, comprising: a first pair of opposed panels; the first pair of opposed panels comprises a first pair fold line to form a first pair first end and a first pair second end; a second pair of opposed panels; the second pair of opposed panels comprises a second pair fold line to form a second pair first end and a second pair second end; and the second pair of opposed panels comprises a pair of diagonal lines extending from the second pair fold line such that folding the second pair first ends along the second pair fold line and the pair of diagonal lines forms a triangular configuration.
 17. The closure feature of claim 16, wherein the pair of diagonal lines comprises a pair of diagonal fold lines or a pair of diagonal perforation lines.
 18. The closure feature of claim 16, wherein the first pair of opposed panels comprises a pair of first flaps extending therefrom and forming a top wall.
 19. The closure feature of claim 18, wherein the second pair of opposed panels comprises a pair of second flaps extending therefrom and forming the top wall.
 20. The closure feature of claim 16, wherein the first pair of opposed panels comprises a first sidewall panel and a second sidewall panel and wherein the second pair of opposed panels comprises a first end wall panel and a second end wall panel. 